Ciaran Cannon, cross the floor or resign?

[David Cochrane]

If the PDs wrap up (or even if they don't it would seem) Ciaran Cannon is expected to join Fine Gael.

But should he do that? A Senator for just over a year, he's a Senator appointed by An Taoiseach on the basis of the PDs supporting the Government.

So if he no longer wants to be a PD (whether or not the PDs decide if they want to continue to be) - should Ciaran Cannon resign his Seanad seat and lead Brian Cowen appoint a replacement?

Of course Fine Gael has two elected TDs at present in Galway East, Deputy Paul Connaughton and Ulick Burke. And two other Fine Gael candidates polled higher than Senator Cannon in 2007 and still didn't get elected (Tom McHugh and Dr John Barton) - so I would assume his (assumed) soon-to-be fellow party members in Galway East aren't going to be too delighted with him joining Fine Gael if he's planning a run in the next General Election (whenever that is).

[Munion]

If he does wish to join FG he should resign his seat.

[mccafferty cat]

Did you call for Margaret Cox to resign her seat when she quit FF in 2007 ?

[DaveM]

I'd have no problem seeing him join FG and keeping the seat. Joe Behan was elected on the basis of his being a FF candidate. Should he also resign his seat?

[David Cochrane]

I'd have no problem seeing him join FG and keeping the seat. Joe Behan was elected on the basis of his being a FF candidate. Should he also resign his seat?

Well Joe Behan has a democratic mandate from the people of Wicklow. Senator Ciaran Cannon was nominated by An Taoiseach on the advice/reccommendation of the PDs as part of a deal on their support for the Government. If that support no longer exists, is he entitled to the seat in the Seanad?

[Munion]

They were elected to their seats, Cannon was not.

I don't agree with the existence of the Seanad in the first place, least of all the Taoiseach's XI. But if you are given a seat without having had to actually do anything for it, then it is not yours to do with as you wish.

[Keith-M]

I'd have no problem seeing him join FG and keeping the seat. Joe Behan was elected on the basis of his being a FF candidate. Should he also resign his seat?

There's a HUGE difference between Behan and other elected TDs and Senators and Cannon. Cannon was not elected to the Senate. He does not have a public mandate to be there. He is an appointee of the Taosieach and his position in the Senate was only secured as part of the deal which saw the PDs join the government. If the PDs fold, he should resign or support the government. If the PDs continue and he leaves them, he is morally obliged to resign as he would be in the Senate under false pretences.

[mccafferty cat]

Where in the Constitution does it say that the Taoiseach's 11 nominees to the Seanad must be made, and remain, on Party-political grounds? Where does it suggest that Cannon should resign?

Previous Taoiseach's nominees (Maurice Hayes for example) did not vote with the Government 100% of the time. Should they also have resigned their seats?

[mccafferty cat]

If the PDs continue and he leaves them, he is morally obliged to resign as he would be in the Senate under false pretences.

How many FF senators resigned in 1994 when John Bruton was elected Taoiseach?

Were they not "morally obliged" to do so also? Were they not there under "false pretences" ?

What a load of utter nonsense.

[red-365]

Maybe all 11 should have resigned when their patron stepped down.